U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross recently announced a final determination in the antidumping duty (AD) investigations of imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from South Africa and Ukraine. “Today’s decision allows U.S. producers of carbon and alloy steel wire rod to receive relief from the market-distorting effects of foreign producers,” said Secretary Ross.
The Commerce Department determined that South African and Ukrainian exporters were selling wire rod in the U.S. at up to 142 percent less than fair value. Moving forward, the department will instruct U.S. Customs and Border Protection to collect cash deposits from importers of wire rod from South Africa and Ukraine to cover these penalties.
In 2016, imports of carbon and alloy steel wire rod from South Africa and Ukraine were valued at an estimated $7.1 and $55 million, respectively. The petitioners were led by Florida-based Gerdau Ameristeel, North Carolina-based Nucor Corporation, Texas-based Keystone Consolidated Industries, and Wisconsin-based Charter Steel.
Over the last 12 months, the Trump administration has initiated 82 antidumping and countervailing duty investigations – a 58 percent year-over-year increase.